Thursday, April 22, 2010

Gleaned a couple more year ticks on the patch today. Firstly, several sedge warblers seemed to have arrived overnight and were all singing away in the reeds around Kilkeran Lake this morning. It was still quiet on the mig front though, with only 4 wheatears knocking about at Shite Lane, (despite a mega count of 28+ birds at Galley yesterday evening), plus 1 willow warbler and 1 chiffchaff. Two sandwich terns off the cove were also new for the year (100), while a reeling grasshopper warbler halfway along Long Strand was too far outside the patch to be audible from within, more's the pity! Still, can't complain, as I don't normally hit 100 species till June or July - this bodes well for the homecoming of the Golden Mallard!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Had a gentle wander down Marsh Lane this morning - not much in the way of migrants apart from 2 wheatearsand a singingchiffchaff but a yellowhammer was a bit more like it (98) - always a good one on the patch as they can be tricky.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Quiet again for migs this morning, with just 5 wheatears, 2 willow warblers and 2 chiffchaffs around the Shite Lane area. Its been so clear lately that I think most stuff is just going straight over. A few whimbrel beginning to move through now, with a flock of 21 birds arriving at Long Strand this evening. Highlight of the day was a stock dove at Long Strand (97), which signals the end of having to scan all pigeons (hooray!), while a male tufted duck on the lake was the first for a while.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

A lovely calm, sunny morning on patch, and a few more migs about. Three blackcaps and 6 swallows were both new for the year, while at least 6 chiffchaffs, 2 willow warblers and 3 wheatears were also knocking about. Bird of the day was a 2nd winter iceland gull over Long Strand (96) - they've been scarce enough this winter. Off patch, an early swift was at Red Strand this morning.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Was out on patch quite a bit during today, for one reason or another, but didn't see any sign of a mig until this evening, when there was 1 sand martin hawking over the lake (92). A scandinavian rock pipit was near the ruined castle on the way out to the lighthouse late afternoon too.